Apparatus for fixing containers in the ship

ABSTRACT

In a container ship, an arm for supporting the containers at positions above the bottom of the container loading space. The arm is pivoted about a horizontal axis so that it may be displaced to a position outside of the location for the containers. A hydraulic cylinder mechanism is provided for displacing the arm, and a slotted connection is provided between the mechanism and the arm so that when the arm is in position within the loading space, the mechanism may be displaced relative to the arm to hook the arm in its horizontal position. The arm has a pin element which projects downwardly from the horizontal position to engage in a hole in the top of the container and prevent lateral movement of the container, the arm serving to hold down the container, and an angle member projecting upwardly from the horizontal position of the arm to receive the bottom corners of the upwardly adjacent container and retain it against lateral displacement.

1 51 Aug. 1, 1972 [54] APPARATUS FOR FIXING CONTAINERS IN THE SHIP [72] inventors: Ichiro Tabuchi, Chiba; Yasuhiro llarita, Tokyo, both of Japan [73] Assignee: Mitsui Shipbuilding and Engineering Co. Ltd., Tokyo, Japan 22 Filed: May 7,1970 21 Appl.No.: 35,482

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data May 14, 1969 Japan ..44/37128 [52] US. Cl. ..114/72, 105/366 C, 105/366 D, 105/367, 214/10.5 R

[58] Field 61 Search ..114/72, 73, 75; 214/6 B, 6 P, 214/105 R, 14, 15 R; 248/119 s, 119 R;

105/368 s, 3 7, 366 c, 366 D; 2923/23 A, 23 D 23 MD, 23 M, 23 s, 23 R, 22 D, 22 J, 22 R;

3,481,298 12/1969 Dluhy ..1 14/72 3,543,951 12/1970 Marvin ..214/105 R' 3,231,l03 l/1966 Tantlinger ..2l4/l0.5 2,749,175 6/1956 Kingetal. ..298/22R Primary Examiner-Milton Buchler Assistant Examiner- F. K. Yee Attorney-l-lowson and Howson [5 7] ABSTRACT In a container ship, an arm for supporting the containers at positions above the bottom of the container loading space. The arm is pivoted about a horizontal axis so that it may be displaced to a position outside of the location for the containers. A hydraulic cylinder mechanism is provided for displacing the arm, and a slotted connection is provided between the mechanism and the arm so that when the arm is in position within the loading space, the mechanism may be displaced relative to the arm to hook the arm in its horizontal position. The arm has a pin element which projects downwardly from the horizontal position to engage in a hole in the top of the container and prevent lateral movement of the container, the arm serving to hold down the container, and an angle member projecting upwardly from the horizontal position of the arm to receive the bottom corners of the upwardly adjacent container and retain it against lateral displacement.

3 Clains, 7 Drawing Figures APPARATUS FOR FIXING CONTAINERS IN THE SHIP This invention relates to an apparatus for fixing containers on the deck or hold in the ship.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel fixing apparatus whereby loading of containers may be easily and efficiently accomplished.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a fixing apparatus which is no need of maintenance during a voyage.

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the conventional means for fixing containers on the deck;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a part of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a vertical stacker;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of an apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the apparatus in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged illustration of FIG. 4; and FIG. 7 is an enlarged illustration of FIG. 5.

In the conventional art, as shown in FIG. 1, positioning corns 4 which are to be engaged with holes 3 at four corners of the container 2 are provided on a hatch cover 1. The lowermost containers are engaged with the positioning corns 4, and upper containers are engaged with vertical stackers 5 which are engaged with the holes of the lower containers and also engaged with the next container. These containers are fixed to the hatch cover by wires 6.

This fixing manner requires a great deal of trouble to engage the holes with the positioning corns and vertical stackers and to bind the wires. Further, since the wires come loose owing to rolling, pitching and etc., they must be re-tightened during voyage.

To overcome these disadvantages, the apparatus in accordance with the present invention is provided with vertically rotatable arms beside the container loading space, the arms having projections to hold the containers. The arms in the horizontal position are adapted to fix containers of both the upper and lower layers.

Referring to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, containers 1 1 are to be fixed on a hatch cover 10 in three layers. On the hatch cover, L-shaped guide members are provided to hold four corners of each container. Pillars 12 are provided on the deck near both sides of the hatch cover 10, three to one side, and vertically rotatable arms 13 are supported by brackets 19 on the each pillar at the height of the container of the each layer. A girder 14 is secured to the end portion of each arm 13 on the same height to connect the arms to each other. On each girder 14, except that of the uppermost layer, guide members 15 are secured to hold the corners of containers, and projecting members 16 to be engaged to the holes of the container are secured to the under side of the girder as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

To rotate the arm 13, as an example, the hydraulic cylinder 17 is rotatably provided on a bracket 18 secured to the pillar 12. A pin 22 is secured to a piston rod of the cylinder 17 and it is adapted to slide in the groove of a guiding member 21 secured to the side of the arm 13. On the upper portion of the cylinder 17 is secured a hook 23 which engages with a stopper 24 projected from the side of the arm 13 to prevent the rotation of the arm 13 upwardly from its horizontal position when the piston rod 20 is fully retracted as shown in full lines in FIG. 6.

In operation, the arms 13 are erected by the operation of cylinders 17 as shown by dotted line in FIG. 6, and the lowermost containers 11 are arranged between the guide members 15 on the hatch cover 10. In order to fix the containers, the arms 13 are rotated from the erect position to the horizontal position by retraction of the piston rod 20, so that the projecting members 16 engage with the holes of the containers as shown in FIG. 6. On the arms fixing the lowermost containers, upper containers are arranged between the guide members l5 and they are also fixed by the arms in the same way. Thus all of the containers are fixed by the operation of the arms 13.

In unloading, when the piston rods 20 of the cylinders 17 of the uppermost layer are projected from the position shown in FIG. 6, the pins 22 slide in the grooves of the guiding members 21 causing lateral displacement of the piston rods 20 and the cylinders 17 which causes the hooks 23 to be removed from the stoppers 24 as shown in broken lines in FIG. 6. After the pins 22 engage with the upper ends of the grooves of the guiding members 21, the arms 13 are erected by the projection of the piston rods 20. Thus the uppermost containers may be unloaded. The lower containers are also unloaded in the same manner.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that loading and unloading of the container may be accomplished easily and efficiently by operation of the arm and maintenance of the fixing apparatus during the voyage is not required.

To fix the containers to be loaded in the hold, the above mentioned arm mechanism may be provided on the wall of the hold.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for fixing containers within a location in a ship comprising vertically rotatable arms provided on a supporting body which is installed outside of the container loading location, each arm being provided with an element projecting downwardly when said arm is horizontal and adapted to engage and fix the container positioned in said location below said arm, and guide means projecting upwardly adapted to engage and position another container above said arm against both lateral and downward displacement, and means for rotating the arms upwardly away from said horizontal position in said location including a piston and a hydraulic cylinder pivoted to said supporting body and having a hook mounted on the cylinder and engaging said arm to prevent upward displacement of said arm when said piston is fully retracted, and means connecting the piston to the arm so as to effect lateral movement of the piston and cylinder upon projection of said piston in a direction to raise the arm, so that the hydraulic cylinder is moved laterally in relation to the arm to automatically release the hook from engagement with said arm when the piston is projected to raise said arm.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said downwardly projecting elements comprise a pin operable to engage in holes in the upper corners of the container.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said upwardly projecting guide means comprise angular corner guides operable to embrace the corners of the container. 

1. Apparatus for fixing containers within a location in a ship comprising vertically rotatable arms provided on a supporting body which is installed outside of the container loading location, each arm being provided with an element projecting downwardly when said arm is horizontal and adapted to engage and fix the container positioned in said location below said arm, and guide means projecting upwardly adapted to engage and position another container above said arm against both lateral and downward displacement, and means for rotating the arms upwardly away from said horizontal position in said location including a piston and a hydraulic cylinder pivoted to said supporting body and having a hook mounted on the cylinder and engaging said arm to prevent upward displacement of said arm when said piston is fully retracted, and means connecting the piston to the arm so as to effect lateral movement of the piston and cylinder upon projection of said piston in a direction to raise the arm, so that the hydraulic cylinder is moved laterally in relation to the arm to automatically release the hook from engagement with said arm when the piston is projected to raise said arm.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said downwardly projecting elements coMprise a pin operable to engage in holes in the upper corners of the container.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said upwardly projecting guide means comprise angular corner guides operable to embrace the corners of the container. 